KEVIN Keegan has fired back at critics who felt his big-spending plans led to David Bernstein and Chris Bird leaving Manchester City's board.

The City manager, who picked up a reputation at Newcastle United for being a big spender, has grown tired of accusations that he has carried on his extravagant habits at Maine Road.

"I'm very disappointed to have seen both the chairman and Chris Bird leave but I have also been disappointed to read that it was down to finances for the team," Keegan said.

"It was an internal matter. You would have to ask Mr Bernstein, Chris or John Wardle about it, because I wasn't party to the board meeting that everything happened at. These things happen in football.

'Won't affect the playing side'

"It should not affect the playing situation here. We have just had to get on with things. I don't mean that disrespectfully to anyone because Mr Bernstein did a great job over five years and Chris is a big fan of the club and great to work with.

"You have to judged on what you achieve but I seem to have been judged on everything as a manager.

"If you start at Newcastle, first people said it was a great success story, now I'm reading that it was a flop.

"People have said in that five years I spent a lot of money but nothing much changed.

"But I took them from the bottom of the first division to second place in the top flight. You can't go from being a first division side to competing with best without spending money.

"And I have spent é39m here, not é50million like I have read in some papers."

More spending

Keegan, though, has admitted that he will have to go on another spending spree if he is to take City to the next level.

"The big clubs never stop strengthening and that is what we have to do," Keegan added.

"We want to finish as high as possible and we starting to get a nice balance to the squad, but if we lose Marc Vivien Foe, we'll have a big hole to fill.

"We either do that by getting someone in on a Bosman or a very good player if we have got the money.

"That is for the board to decide, not for Kevin Keegan. I have had great support here and I'd like to think it would continue."